Overview: The Cumberland Board of License Commissioners approved a one-day full liquor license for Phantom Farms’ seven-weekend Fall Fest on Wednesday, September 2. However, the approval comes with unresolved uncertainty regarding state law’s cap of 12 one-day licenses per year and how the dates are counted.
The Full Story
The application listed 14 dates — Saturdays and Sundays from September 12 through October 25 — at the Diamond Hill Road farm, originally scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Under state law, a Class F-1 license is capped at 12 per organization in a calendar year. The board approved the license by voice vote, 7-0, expressly pending clarification on the number of dates.
A town official addressing the board noted that the statutory language is not limited to a single day, suggesting consecutive dates might qualify as one event. This distinction decides the outcome, as counting by day exceeds the cap while counting by weekend lands within the limit. The applicant described Fall Fest as a children’s event with bounce houses, haybale mazes, wagon rides and face painting, with the liquor license intended so the affiliated brewery can serve beer and cider.
Before the vote, the board amended the agenda to run the license to 3 p.m. rather than 2 p.m., by voice vote, 7-0. The applicant confirmed Fall Fest winds down around 3 p.m., when ticket sales and hay rides stop and the bounce houses are deflated.
Brand & Industry History
The farm’s fall schedule has been before the council previously. At its August 19 meeting, the council denied one Fall Fest date on the entertainment license over a neighboring nonprofit farm’s event that weekend. Later, at Wednesday’s regular meeting, the council reconsidered and restored September 26 by voice vote after the applicant said the two farms were working together and had no conflict.
What This Means
For residents, the practical effect is narrow but real: beer and cider service at Fall Fest is authorized, but the number of weekend dates on which it can legally be poured has not been finally fixed. The board’s approval leaves that to the solicitor’s review, with the first weekend arriving September 12.
Consumer Takeaway
Estimated attendance is between 800 and 1,200 people per full day during Fall Fest, with roughly 200 total parking spaces available on site. The event includes wagon rides and face painting alongside alcohol service, though the applicant cautioned not to hold him to the specific attendance figure.
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